YANK TRIES OUT N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1946, Page 5

YANK TRIES OUT N.Z.

BUT GLAD TO GET BACK TO | UNITED STATES Received Suiiday, 8 p.m. SAX FRAXOiSeO, July 21. Xew Zealand is not the land of opportunity he believed when he lefl Ainerica to niake his hoine in Auckland 1 only last February, said Robert Baker, l according to the Austruliaii Associated Press. Baker 's wife is an Aucklano girl, formerly Elsie 1'erkins, living in Dominioii Road. They niarried whilo Baker was stationed at Auckland with an American hospital unit. Both are 21. After the niarriage Baker was transferrod Lo San Francisco and his wife followed Jaler vvith a baby duughter. Renienibering the happy honevnioou t.liere which seems to have given all Xew Zealand a rosy glow in their oyos, Baker and his wife and baby left for Auckland in January aboard the •Miprtt.ei.cy,. Litervievved vvhe.ti Jeavi ng Baker said: " !t is a yo'uiTg rnan 's lahd ; a new c-oyfiitry still gi'owiTtgrup, There is mpVlF bppoi-timjty;.;' I' 0 two JJri. that they return to America as he was hoping slie would. Baker worked for a wholesalo lirrn for nine weeks for £6 10s weekly, paid weekly for a room and boanl, and £10 .'5s in taxis. He then worked his way to San Francisco aboard a ship. Ilis wife and baby are dtie in August. Xew Zealand, he says, is a beantiful place for a vacation but living conditions are dull and noi good. The ordinary Xew Zealander is without modern conveniences which are almost a necessily in America. Life in Ameri. ica is so much happier. Down there life | is laid out at biith. The people there j have no great personal ambitions an l i no dreams. He immediatelv secured work at San i Francisco with an excollent future as an apprentiec electrotyper. His pay is ;220 dollars monthly, including the 95 idollars Government subsidy for 1 vetorans. I ■